Chronology of Events – Tunisia]

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4 September 2020 [CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS – TUNISIA]

Chronology of Events – Tunisia

1940 22 June Marshal PETAIN, now Prime Minister of France, signs an armistice with Germany.

10 July The French Third Republic is dissolved, and PETAIN establishes a new, authoritarian regime based at Vichy to administer unoccupied France and the French colonies overseas. The French territories in North West Africa (Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco) all align themselves with the Vichy regime.

1941 8 December Japan invades Malaya and attacks the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor. In consequence, Germany declares war on the U.S.A..

22 December British Prime Minister, Winston CHURCHILL, meets with U.S. President ROOSEVELT, in Washington. Codenamed the Arcadia Conference, also known as the First Washington Conference, this is the first meeting of the Allied Powers, who adopt the term of the United Nations.

1942 14 January Arcadia Conference concludes. Key decisions agreed include:

➢ Establishment of a Combined Chiefs of Staff based in Washington; ➢ Creation of an American, British, Dutch and Australian Command (A.B.D.A.) in the Far East; ➢ Declaration by the United Nations that no one country would seek a separate peace with any of the Axis nations;1 ➢ Surrender of Axis nations would be unconditional; ➢ The United Nations subscribed to the concept of ‘Total War’ until victory achieved; ➢ The first aim of the United Nations was the defeat of Germany (the Europe First policy);

1 The original ‘United Nations’ comprised twenty-six countries, namely: United States of America, United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Republic of China, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the governments in exile of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia. ©www.BritishMilitaryH istory.co.uk Page 1

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➢ In line with that policy, British and U.S. forces would invade French North Africa from Libya if the Vichy French administration did not transfer to Free France.

January A British operation to secure French North Africa, ‘Operation Gymnast’, is enlarged with U.S. involvement as ‘Super Gymnast’.

April 1942 Planning commences on ‘Operation Round-Up’, a landing in North-West France, and plans for Super Gymnast suspended.

7th April Lieutenant General (Acting) Edmond SCHREIBER, C.B., D.S.O., p.s.c. appointed Force and Army Commander (Designate) Allied Expeditionary Force. Later pronounced medically unfit for service overseas and replaced by General ALEXANDER (who was senior and more experienced) but continued in planning role until 11th August.

24th June Allied Force Headquarters formed in London to command British Forces overseas in a new Expeditionary Force.

July Super Gymnast plan revived as ‘Operation Torch’, although mounting shipping losses was causing concern. The U.S. victory at Midway Island also allowed planning to proceed.

6 July 1st Army formed at Largs in Scotland under the command of General Sir Harold ALEXANDER, K.C.B., C.S.I., D.S.O., M.C.*, i.d.c., p.s.c.

6 August Lieutenant General EISENHOWER, U.S. Army, appointed Commander-in-Chief, Allied Expeditionary Force. Major General CLARK, U.S. Army appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief, and Allied Force Headquarters (A.F.H.Q.) opened in London.

7 August General ALEXANDER appointed Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Command.

10 August Lieutenant General (Temporary) Bernard Law MONTGOMERY, C.B., D.S.O., p.s.c. appointed as replacement for General ALEXANDER.

12 August The War Office appoints Lieutenant General (Temporary) Kenneth Noel ANDERSON, C.B., M.C., p.s.c. as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief 1st Army, with the appointment of Lieutenant General MONTGOMERY as G.O.C.-in-C. 8th Army, upon the death of Lieutenant General GOTT.

13 August The Combined Chiefs of Staff issue a directive to General EISENHOWER, that states:

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The President and the Prime Minister have agreed that combined military operations be directed against Africa as early as practicable with a view to gaining, in conjunction with Allied forces in the Middle East, complete control of North Africa from the Atlantic to the Red Sea.

The directive listed three phases, firstly creating firm and mutually supporting lodgments at Oran, Algiers and Tunis on the north coast, and at Casablanca on the north-west coast. Secondly, to exploit from these lodgments to acquire complete control of all French North Africa (and if necessary, Spanish Morocco). Thirdly, by thrusting eastward so as to take the Axis forces in the Western Desert in the rear and annihilate them.

23/24 October The British 8th Army launches Operation ‘Lightfoot’, which opens the Second Battle of El Alamein.

2 November The 8th Army’s offensive stalls, so Operation ‘Supercharge’ is developed and initiated at El Alamein.

4 November The Axis forces at El Alamein reach the end of their capacity to resist the attack by British forces, and a general retreat is ordered.

Saturday 7 November 11th Infantry Brigade of 78th Infantry Division lands at Algiers.

8 November American Forces from the United Kingdom (Centre Task Force) land at Oran in Algeria and from the United States (Western Task Force) land in Morocco.

Western Task Force comprises U.S. 2nd Armoured Division, U.S. 3rd Infantry Division and U.S. 9th Infantry Division.

Centre Task Force comprising U.S. 1st Armoured Division and U.S. 1st Infantry Division lands at Oran. Coup de Main Force drawn from 3rd Bn. 6th Armoured Infantry Regiment on board H.M.S. Walney and H.M.S. Hartland attempt to capture Oran Harbour, but failed sustaining heavy casualties.

Eastern Task Force comprising the U.S. 34th Infantry Division and 78th Infantry Division land around Algiers. Coup de Main Force from 3rd Bn. 135th Infantry Regiment on board H.M.S. Broke and H.M.S. Malcolm attempt to take Algiers Harbour. HMS Broke succeeded and landed her troops at 05.20 hours, which were forced to surrender by 12.00 noon. American casualties are given as 15 killed and 33 wounded. HMS Broke later sank as a result of damage sustained, with the loss of 9 Royal Navy ratings.

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9 November • Headquarters 1st Army lands at Algiers, with under command V Corps and IX Corps. Lieutenant General ANDERSON assumes command of the Eastern Task Force, which is now subsumed into 1st Army.

• French Forces in North Africa agree to a ceasefire.

• German Forces land in Tunisia.

11 November An Armistice with the Vichy French forces in Algeria and Morocco agreed.

12 November ‘Blade Force’ lands in Algeria.

13 November 8th Army troops enter Tobruk without encountering any resistance.

20 November 8th Army troops capture the port and town of Benghazi.

25 November ‘Blade’ Force reaches Beja and continues advance along the Tine valley. Force makes first contact with Axis forces at road junction near location known as Coxen’s Farm. American unit locates an airfield near Djedeida an attacks, destroying several German aircraft on the ground.

26 November German forces counter attack ‘Blade’ Force, but sustain heavy casualties and withdraw.

28 November 11th Infantry Brigade reaches Tebourba.

30 November German forces attack Allied forces at Tebourba.

3 December Orders given to give up Tebourba position. ‘Blade’ Force and 11th Infantry Brigade withdraw. 2nd Bn. The Hampshire Regiment conducted defence of Tebourba, and had to fight their way out sustaining significant losses.

6 December 78th Infantry Division comes under command of V Corps.

‘Blade’ Force disbanded.

22 December Units from the 78th Infantry Division attack ‘Longstop’ Hill overlooking the Tebourba road.

The 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade and 17th/21st Lancers from 6th Armoured Division deploy southwards onto the Goubellat plain and Bou Arada areas.

1943

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January 46th Infantry Division lands in North Africa.

10 January German forces capture ‘Two Tree Hill’ near Bou Arada.

18 January German armoured and infantry forces attack units of the 6th Armoured Division in the Bou Arada area. German forces fail to break through and withdraw at the close of day.

19 January 2nd Bn. The London Irish Rifles attack Point 279 and Point 286 near Bou Arada. Attack stalled with heavy casualties. However, German forces eventually withdraw from Point 286.

31 January German forces attack positions held by the 36th (Irish) Infantry Brigade, but Allied positions are held.

04.00 hrs 14 February German Forces attack towards Sidi Bou Zid with the 10th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division. American Forces isolated on Djebel Lessouda and Djebel Ksaira.

15 February U.S. 1st Armored Division counter attack towards Sidi Bou Zid, but fail to make any progress.

15 February Second German attack made towards Gafsa by elements of Deutsch Afika Corps.

17 February • Axis Forces continue thrust to Feriana. American Forces withdraw successfully from Djebel Lessouda.

• 26th Armoured Brigade and 2nd/5th Bn. The Leicestershire Regiment dispatched to Thala to block German advance.

• Rest of 6th Armoured Division and 18th U.S. Regimental Combat Team takes up defence of Sbiba Pass.

19 February • German forces attack Sbiba Pass but are repulsed.

• German forces attack the 26th U.S. Regimental Combat Team at the entrance to the Kasserine Pass leading to Thala.

20 February • 18th Army Group formed.

• German attacks up the Kasserine Pass continue. American forces fall back.

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• By 16.00 hours, German forces push aside the American defenders and continue their advance up the Kasserine Pass.

21 February German attack continues. ‘Nick’ Force (commanded by Brigadier Nicholson) formed to coordinate Allied forces in defence of the Kasserine Pass.

22 February 1943 ‘Nick Force’ succeeds in blunting German advance during day long battle. Main units involved were the 26th Armoured Brigade, 2nd/5th Leicestershire Regiment, British and American artillery units from 6th Armoured Division and 9th U.S. Infantry Division.

23 February 1943 ‘Nick Force’ joined by 16th/5th Lancers and 1st Infantry Brigade (Guards) from Thala. Indications that the German forces are withdrawing.

24 February 1943 Allied forces advance cautiously down the Kasserine Pass. Several losses occurred due to mines laid by Germans, but no Axis troops encountered.

March 1943 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade remains in Bou Arada area, where it forms an ad hoc formation called ‘Y’ Division, with the 1st Parachute Brigade, a battalion of French infantry and the 152nd Field Regiment under command.

Division fought some local actions in the area. 38th Infantry Brigade transfers to 78th Infantry Division, with the 1st Infantry Brigade (Guards) transferring to 6th Armoured Division. This Division refits in the Sbiba area.

3 March End of German offensive in Tunisia.

9 March Headquarters 1st Infantry Division land in Tunisia. It comes under command of V Corps and is operational by mid-March.

12 March 6th Armoured Division transfers from V Corps to IX Corps.

23 March British 4th Infantry (Mixed) Division lands in North Africa. The Division initially comes under command of 1st Army.

24 March Headquarters IX Corps operational as Army Group Reserve.

25 March 1st Infantry Division comes under command of V Corps.

27 March 34th U.S. Infantry Division (under command of IX Corps)

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28 March 46th (British) Infantry Division commences an offensive in the Northern Sector to retake the area up to Sedjenane lost in the recent Axis attack.

30 March Sedjenane recaptured by units from 46th (British) Infantry Division. 850 German and Italian prisoners taken, and the Allies advanced about eighteen miles by 1 April.

2 April British 4th Infantry (Mixed) Division comes under command of V Corps.

1st Army orders a halt to the offensive by the 46th (British) Infantry Division.

7 April 78th Infantry Division commences offensive to remove German troops from the high ground to the north of Medjez-el-Bab.

8 April • All primary objectives of the 78th Infantry Division are captured.

• Lieutenant General ANDERSON sets the tasks of his formations as follows: • V Corps to secure the high ground overlooking the road from Oued Zarga to Medjez. When the corps had the 1st, 4th and 78th Infantry Divisions in place, they were to capture Longstop Hill and seize the high ground north-east of Bou Arada. • French XIX Corps to move forward in the area of Djebel Mansour and capture the heights south of Pont du Fahs.

12 April IX Corps now under command of 1st Army, with 6th Armoured Division under command. Also under command were the 34th U.S. Infantry Division and 128th Infantry Brigade.

22 April Advance by 78th Infantry Division resumes. The Inniskillings reach the fortified village of Tanngoucha, but have to withdraw due to heavy fire from supporting features.

23 April The offensive by the 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade continues, with the Inniskillings attacking Tanngoucha, the London Irish Rifles Heidous, and Royal Irish Fusiliers Point 622. Attacks initially make progress, but are then held up due to determined resistence. Tanks from the North Irish Horse are called up, and manage to reach the mountain features. First Point 622 surrenders, followed by Butler’s Hill, then Tanngoucha and lastly the village of Heidous is taken.

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The 36th Infantry Brigade assaults ‘Longstop’. Shellfire hits the H.Q. of 8th Bn. A & S Highlanders, killing Lieutenant Colonel McNABB and other personnel. Major Jack ANDERSON assumes command of battalion and leads it in the assault to capture Djebel Ahmera (one half of ‘Longstop’).

30 April 1943 7th Armoured Division transfers to IX Corps (1st Army) from X Corps (8th Army).

7 May 1943 Tunis captured

13 May 1943 German Forces in Tunisia surrender. Approximately 240,000 German and Italian troops are taken prisoner.

18 May 1943 7th Armoured Division left IX Corps to transfer to V Corps.

31 May 1943 Headquarters IX Corps disbanded in North Africa.

25 July 1943 1st Army disbanded in Tunisia.

4 September 2020 [CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS – TUNISIA]

Maps

4 September 2020 [CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS – TUNISIA]